When to go · South Tarawa
South Tarawa in January
Mixed month. Wetter season; king tides can flood low roads.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C) / 26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 16
- Crowds
- Low
- Kiribati overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Kiribati overall
Verdict
Wetter season; king tides can flood low roads.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than January?
January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in January
- South TarawaHighs around 31 °C (88 °F), lows around 26 °C (79 °F), rain on about 16 daysHighs around 88 °F (31 °C), lows around 79 °F (26 °C), rain on about 16 days
Wetter season season
Heavy showers and a green atoll; fewer visitors.
Watch: King tides can flood low roads; flights can shift.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
New Year
1 January · Nationwide
Public holiday; shops closed, transport thin.
Wetter season and king tides
Nov–Mar
Roads can flood on high tides; flights may shift.
Christmas and New Year
Late Dec–early Jan
Family season: shops shut, transport thin, flights full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Kiribati overall
- Low
- Prices · Kiribati overall
- Medium
Kiribati overall: Rain season in the Gilberts; Kiritimati fishing good.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in South Tarawa, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
May: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Night low
Jan: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
May: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 16
May: 13 (better)
Crowds
Jan: Low
May: Low
Prices
Jan: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 3
May: 0
January: Wetter season; king tides can flood low roads.
May: Drier and slightly cooler.
South Tarawa: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast